15 July 2025

.frontier New gTLD Application

15 July 2025

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New gTLD Application Submitted to ICANN by: Frontier Communications Corporation

String: FRONTIER

Originally Posted: 13 June 2012

Application ID: 1-2106-18801

Applicant Information

Full legal name

Frontier Communications Corporation

Address of the principal place of business

Three High Ridge Park

Stamford CT 06905

Phone number

203 614 5178

Fax number

203 614 4651

If applicable, website or URL

http:⁄⁄www.ftr.com

Primary Contact

6(a). Name

Ms. Allison M. Ellis

6(b). Title

Associate General Counsel, Compliance and Regulatory

6(c). Address

6(d). Phone Number

203 614 5178

6(e). Fax Number

6(f). Email Address

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Secondary Contact

7(a). Name

Mr. Kitt Diebold

7(b). Title

Director, Engineering Data Services

7(c). Address

7(d). Phone Number

585 413 9984

7(e). Fax Number

7(f). Email Address

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Proof of Legal Establishment

8(a). Legal form of the Applicant

Corporation

8(b). State the specific national or other jursidiction that defines the type of entity identified in 8(a).

Frontier Communications Corporation is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware, U.S.A.

8(c). Attach evidence of the applicant's establishment.

Attachments are not displayed on this form.

9(a). If applying company is publicly traded, provide the exchange and symbol.

NASDAQ;FTR

9(b). If the applying entity is a subsidiary, provide the parent company.

9(c). If the applying entity is a joint venture, list all joint venture partners.

Applicant Background

11(a). Name(s) and position(s) of all directors

Edward Fraioli Director

Howard L. Schrott Director

James S. Kahan Director

Jeri B. Finard Director

Larraine D. Segil Director

Leroy T. Barnes, Jr. Director

Mark Shapiro Director

Myron A. Wick, III Director

Pamela D.A. Reeve Director

Peter C.B. Bynoe Director

11(b). Name(s) and position(s) of all officers and partners

Cecilia K. McKenney Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Call Center Sales & Service

Daniel J. McCarthy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Kathleen Q. Abernathy Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Regulatory and Government Affairs

Mary Agnes Wilderotter Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Nancy S. Rights Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary

Peter B. Hayes Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales

Susana D’Emic Senior Vice President and Controller

11(c). Name(s) and position(s) of all shareholders holding at least 15% of shares

11(d). For an applying entity that does not have directors, officers, partners, or shareholders: Name(s) and position(s) of all individuals having legal or executive responsibility

Applied-for gTLD string

Provide the applied-for gTLD string. If an IDN, provide the U-label.

FRONTIER

14(a). If an IDN, provide the A-label (beginning with "xn--").

14(b). If an IDN, provide the meaning or restatement of the string in English, that is, a description of the literal meaning of the string in the opinion of the applicant.

14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (in English).

14(c). If an IDN, provide the language of the label (as referenced by ISO-639-1).

14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (in English).

14(d). If an IDN, provide the script of the label (as referenced by ISO 15924).

14(e). If an IDN, list all code points contained in the U-label according to Unicode form.

15(a). If an IDN, Attach IDN Tables for the proposed registry.

Attachments are not displayed on this form.

15(b). Describe the process used for development of the IDN tables submitted, including consultations and sources used.

15(c). List any variant strings to the applied-for gTLD string according to the relevant IDN tables.

Describe the applicant's efforts to ensure that there are no known operational or rendering problems concerning the applied-for gTLD string. If such issues are known, describe steps that will be taken to mitigate these issues in software and other applications.

Frontier Communications Corporation (“Frontier”) foresees no known rendering issues in connection with the proposed .FRONTIER gTLD. This answer is based on Frontier’s research and consultation with Frontier’s selected back-end technical services provider, Neustar, Inc., which has successfully launched a number of new gTLDs over the last decade. In reaching this determination, a number of resources were consulted including the following:

ICANN’s Security Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) entitled Alternative TLD Name Systems and Roots: Conflict, Control and Consequences (SAC009);
IAB - RFC3696 “Application Techniques for Checking and Transformation of Names”;
Known software issues that Neustar has encountered when launching new gTLDs;

Character type and length;

ICANN supplemental notes to Question 16 and materials linked from the supplemental notes; and
ICANN’s presentation during its Costa Rica regional meeting on TLD Universal Acceptance.

(OPTIONAL) Provide a representation of the label according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/ipa/).

Mission/Purpose

18(a). Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.

Background of Frontier Communications Corporation

Frontier Communications Corporation (“Frontier”) is a communications company that provides services predominantly to residential and business customers in rural areas and small and medium-sized towns and cities in the U.S. Frontier was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1935, originally under the name of Citizens Utilities Company, and was known as Citizens Communications Company from 2000 until July 31, 2008. Frontier’s mission is to be the leader in providing communications services to residential and business customers in our markets. Frontier is committed to delivering innovative and reliable products and solutions with an emphasis on convenience, service and customer satisfaction. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Frontier generated revenue of $5.2 billion, net income of $45 million and cash flow from operations of $1.6 billion.

Frontier offers a variety of voice, data, Internet, and television services and products, some that are available á la carte, and others that are available as bundled or packaged solutions. Frontier is the United State’s largest communications services provider focused on rural areas and small and medium-sized towns and cities, operating in 27 states, and the nation’s fourth largest Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC), with approximately 5.3 million access lines, 1.8 million broadband connections and 15,400 employees as of December 31, 2011. Frontier’s business is with both residential and business customers and Frontier provides the “last mile” of telecommunications services to customers in these markets. Frontier’s services include:

local and long distance voice services;
data and Internet services;
access services; and
video services.

Local and long distance voice services. Frontier provides basic telephone wireline services to residential and business customers in our service areas. Frontier also provides enhanced services to customers by offering a number of calling features, including call forwarding, conference calling, caller identification, voicemail and call waiting. Long distance network service to and from points outside our operating territories are provided by interconnection with the facilities of interexchange carriers.

Data and Internet services. Frontier offers a wide range of wireline data services to residential, commercial and carrier customers. Residential services include HSI, dial up Internet, portal and e-mail products, and Frontier Secure services, such as hard drive back-up and computer technical support. Frontier’s www.TumTiki.com website provides easy online access to free television programs, video on demand movies and other entertainment. Hard drive back-up services, 24-7 help desk PC support and www.TumTiki.com are available to consumers and small businesses throughout the United States. Commercial services include Ethernet, Dedicated Internet, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and TDM data transport services. These services are all supported by a 24x7 help desk and an advanced Network Operations Center. Frontier also offers wireless data services (using unlicensed WiFi spectrum) in select markets utilizing networks that Frontier owns or operates.

Access services. Frontier’s switched access services allow other carriers to use Frontier’s facilities to originate and terminate their local and long distance voice traffic.

Video services. Frontier offers video services under relationships with DISH and DirecTV. Frontier also offers fiber optic video services on a limited basis in the states of Indiana, Oregon and Washington pursuant to franchises, permits and similar authorizations issued by local franchising authorities utilizing fiber optic delivery transport to the home.

The Mission⁄Purpose of the .FRONTIER gTLD

Frontier is seeking approval for the .FRONTIER and .FTR gTLDs, which correspond to Frontier’s name and core brands, in furtherance of Frontier’s goal of continuing to deliver innovative and reliable products and solutions with an emphasis on convenience, service and customer satisfaction. Frontier’s proposed gTLDs are intended to be a cornerstone of Frontier’s future online strategic initiatives by providing a trusted, hierarchical, and intuitive namespace for consumers of Frontier’s services.

There are now approximately ten small ICANN approved gTLDs with fewer than 300,000 registrations, and Frontier will operate the .FRONTIER gTLD in accordance with a registry operations model similar to many of the small gTLDs now in operation. The principle feature of such existing small operations is reliance on trusted back-end suppliers. Frontier will rely on outsourcing all SRS, DNS, DNSSEC, WHOIS, Data Escrow, and registrar support operations to well-established technical service providers. Frontier will also take advantage of its existing corporate departments to interface with outside vendors on technical, legal, accounting, marketing, communications, and compliance issues associated with the .FRONTIER gTLD.

The .FRONTIER gTLD will be a small, specialized gTLD with no public registration sales market, and Frontier anticipates issuance of no more than 50 second level .FRONTIER domain names within the first three years of operation of the .FRONTIER gTLD. Frontier has based its planning for the .FRONTIER gTLD on careful analysis of the history of gTLD operations, particularly the introduction of gTLDs since 2001. This analysis has been developed by an internal team of specialists at Frontier as well as outside counsel and advisors. Frontier will be ready for the .FRONTIER gTLD to be delegated within one year of signing a registry agreement with ICANN.

The .FRONTIER gTLD is planned as a “.BRAND gTLD”, with the goal of promoting and protecting Frontier’s online presence and identity; expanding its marketing and promotion efforts; and providing a secure channel for delivery of online products and services. Owning the .FRONTIER gTLD will provide Frontier with the ability to enhance Frontier’s business model and distribution channels, as well as Frontier’s strategic positioning. The .FRONTIER gTLD will be used to complement Frontier’s social media and branding strategies and create new business opportunities. The foregoing will enable Frontier to capitalize in various areas, such as protecting Frontier brands; building brand loyalty; building customer trust; and enhancing security.

18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?

Frontier’s Goals in Terms of Areas of Specialty, Service Levels, or Reputation

A central purpose of the .FRONTIER gTLD will be to provide innovative product and service delivery platforms to customers through Frontier’s use of intuitive .FRONTIER namespaces (second level domain names) in relation to Frontier’s well-established areas of specialty: local and long distance voice services; data and Internet services; access services; and video services.

Examples of such services and second level domain names that will be used by Frontier include the following:

www.email.frontier (Email log-in);

www.homepage.frontier (Frontier’s home⁄main webpage);

www.portal.frontier (Frontier’s Yahoo! portal);

www.toolbar.frontier (Frontier’s Internet toolbar);

www.games.frontier (Online games);

www.frontiersecure.frontier (Secure data storage);

www.tumtiki.frontier (TumTiki® online video);

www.myaccount.frontier (Frontier online bill pay);

www.customerservice.frontier (Customer service);

www.techsupport.frontier (Technical support);

www.business.frontier (Frontier business solution center);

www.SmallBusinessCenter.frontier (Frontier Small Business);

www.investors.frontier (Frontier Investor Relations);

www.corporate.frontier (Frontier Corporate); and

www.wholesale.frontier (Frontier Wholesale).

Frontier customers will be able to more easily and intuitively locate each of the aforementioned services, and more, due to the uniform naming convention that will be used for second level .FRONTIER domain names.

.FRONTIER’s Additions to the Current Space in Terms of Competition, Differentiation, or Innovation

Frontier customers’ security on the Internet will be aided by Frontier’s use of .FRONTIER domain names as customers will recognize that .FRONTIER domain names can be trusted as legitimate Frontier websites and email addresses. Frontier intends to gradually introduce second level .FRONTIER domain names over a three year period while at the same promoting such domain names and associated services to customers. As additional second level domain names “go live,” and Frontier customers begin to recognize and use the domain names, Frontier customers will be less likely to be deceived by phishing attempts, spam emails, and other Internet based fraud attempts that improperly use Frontier’s name and⁄or trademarks.

Frontier’s use of the .FRONTIER gTLD will not only benefit Frontier, but it will also benefit consumers and the Internet community at-large by improving the safety and security of interactions on the Internet.

Frontier’s Goals in Terms of User Experience

Frontier is focused on enhancing the customer experience. Frontier’s commitment to providing customer service is demonstrated by a 100% U.S.-based workforce, expanded customer service hours, shorter scheduling windows for in-home appointments, call reminders and follow-up calls for service appointments. Frontier will extend its longstanding commitment to customer service to the operation of the .FRONTIER gTLD.

Frontier’s Intended Registration Policies

The market for the .FRONTIER gTLD for the initial three years of operation will be limited to registrations within Frontier. Frontier’s strategy for release of second level .FRONTIER domain names will be determined by corporate marketing executives and by the business plans of Frontier, and Frontier anticipates registration of no more than 50 second level domains within the .FRONTIER gTLD at the conclusion of the first three years of operation. On or before the conclusion of the third year of operation, Frontier will evaluate whether opportunities exist to advance Frontier’s business strategies for the .FRONTIER gTLD through registrations of second level .FRONTIER domain names to parties other than Frontier. Following is a description of Frontier’s currently planned three-stage rollout for the .FRONTIER gTLD.

1) Stage 1

The initial stage of implementation of the .FRONTIER gTLD will involve Frontier registering a limited number of second-level domain names such as, for example, whois.Frontier, nic.Frontier, and home.Frontier. The initial limited use of second level .FRONTIER domain names will provide Frontierʹs technical services vendors and IT personnel with the ability to run tests to ensure seamless and secure access using .FRONTIER domain names, interoperability with various software and Web-based applications, and unbroken and secure use of all domain names. This initial allocation will also allow appropriate Frontier staff to coordinate with internal and external staff responsible for the delegation and setup phases of the .FRONTIER gTLD to ensure proper transition from delegation to full operation of the .FRONTIER registry.

2) Stage 2

Once all testing has been successfully completed, Frontier will begin allocating second level domain names in the .FRONTIER gTLD for more widespread use by Frontier. Frontier will also begin evaluating strategies to potentially seek to migrate Frontier customer Internet visits⁄traffic away from Frontier’s current network of second-level domain names, which are registered in a variety of other TLDs, to Frontierʹs new .FRONTIER gTLD.

During Stage Two, Frontier will also evaluate potentially expanding the operations of the .FRONTIER gTLD to permit registration by other registrants, including customers, licensees, and strategic partners. Should an assessment of Frontier’s expansion strategy lead to a decision to extend registration rights to other parties, the expansion would take place during Stage Three. Any expansion would be conditioned on a review of Specification 9 (Registry Code of Conduct), as set forth in the “New gTLD Registry Agreement”, to ensure compliance with any potential evolution of Frontierʹs business model.

3) Stage 3

Depending upon the analysis undertaken by Frontier during Stage Two, and associated conclusions, Frontier may begin to seek a permanent migration of Internet traffic away from the other TLDs in which Frontierʹs domain names are currently registered, toward the .FRONTIER gTLD. It is during this stage that Frontier may also implement its decision to extend registration rights to a wider class of registrants, potentially including customers, licensees, and strategic partners. The dates of such an expansion are subject to change depending upon business, strategic, and industry factors at the time, and the dates are anticipated to be no earlier than three years from the date the .FRONTIER gTLD begins operation.

Frontier’s Measures for Protecting Privacy

The .FRONTIER gTLD will be a small, specialized gTLD with no public registration market for sale of second level domain names, and Frontier anticipates issuance of no more than 50 second level .FRONTIER domain names within the first three years of operation of the .FRONTIER gTLD.

Nonetheless, Frontier is sensitive to privacy issues with respect to the use of identifiable customer information provided over the Internet. Frontier does not collect and then sell, distribute, or exchange personal information with third parties other than its partners, in which case the information shared is limited to what is necessary to provide services to customers. In order to comply with the Childrenʹs Online Privacy Protection Act (ʺCOPPAʺ), Frontier does not knowingly collect any information from children under 13. Frontier only shares personal information with unaffiliated organizations that perform services on behalf of Frontier and only as necessary for them to perform these services. Frontier uses reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information collected online by Frontier.

Frontier’s Outreach and Communications Plans

Consistent with Frontier’s plans for a phased introduction of second level .FRONTIER domain names over a period of three years, Frontier envisions a similar phased introduction of marketing efforts to promote recognition and use of .FRONTIER domain names by Frontier’s current and potential customers. Frontier anticipates allocating a percentage of its overall advertising budget to promote the .FRONTIER namespace through a variety of marketing and customer outreach efforts including, for example, through traditional media, social media and electronic messaging and branding campaigns.

18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?

Frontier intends to operate the .FRONTIER gTLD as a “.BRAND gTLD” and will closely control the registration of all .FRONTIER second level domain names. The .FRONTIER gTLD will be used to provide innovative product and service delivery platforms in relation to Frontier’s well-established areas of specialty: local and long distance voice services; data and Internet services; access services; and video services. As a closed or single-enterprise registry, Frontier will bear the costs associated with operation and maintenance of the .FRONTIER gTLD and consumers will not encounter the types of Internet vulnerabilities that are often associated with current open⁄unrestricted registries.

In the event that Frontier determines in the future that it will permit registration of .FRONTIER domain names by third parties, such third-party registrations will be offered on a first-come⁄first-served basis.

In the event that Frontier determines in the future that it will permit registration of .FRONTIER domain names by third parties, Frontier does not envision charging consumers fees for such third-party registrations. If Frontier enters into agreements with third parties for the registration of second level .FRONTIER domain names in exchange for compensation to Frontier, Frontier will include contractual provisions addressing any potential pricing increases for registrations and renewals of such second level .FRONTIER domain names.